Ready or Not

I am ready.  I am so ready, but maybe I better not.  I have felt ready to start lifting heavier objects (and weights at the gym) and ride a horse.  My incision seems all healed, but the deeper surgical site can not be seen.  Lifting too early could disrupt the underlying fascia that's trying to reconnect.  So I knew I needed to progress slowly, gradually lifting heavier items if it didn't cause discomfort around my incision.
I also wondered, when it comes to buying a new horse, am I ready?

Hugh Laurie has a good point with this quote:  “It's a terrible thing, I think, in life to wait until you're ready. I have this feeling now that actually, no one is ever ready to do anything. There is almost no such thing as ready. There is only now. And you may as well do it now. Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.”  

Saturday 8/31 - After getting last weeks blog posted, I scampered off to the ranch to do chores.  By the time I got done mucking and up to the chicken coop, these three were out on the side pasture. 









Once home, I had my second breakfast and then Joe and I headed into town to go to the Playhouse and see a very well done production of Grease.

After that we went to the airport hiking trail, where we did our first leg of the hiking marathon that lasts the whole month of September.  We were one day early getting started, but it was very convenient for us to go because it was so close to the Playhouse. 

I did both loops which were part of the marathon covering 4.8 miles and Joe did just one loop.


Next, we went to Lowe’s to pick out some lights to replace our outdated fluorescent light fixtures, which no longer have ballast to keep them running.  We found something we could both settle on. 





We got hit with a downpour as we were coming out of the store and it continued to rain hard all the way home.  By the time I was in the house, I was feeling rather cold because it had really cooled off and the rain and sweat had my clothing damp.  I made a cup of tea, changed clothes, read on the porch with Stevie, and puttered around the remainder of the day and evening.
 

Sunday 9/1 - And just like that, September is here and summer is over and we were experiencing an early fall.

Courtney was coming, so I ran to the store to get some food.  Then I scrambled to clean house a little bit.  In addition to helping Joe vacuum everything, including the furniture, in our continued effort of flea eradication, I also did a deep cleaning of the guest bathroom. 



I went to the ranch where Courtney met me.  We brought the horses into the barn and groomed them well and did some healthcare on their hooves.  It was plenty warm, so Wanda was staying cool, sleeping on the rocks.  Cats have a way of making every nap spot look comfortable. 

We decided it was too hot to take the horses for a walk.  Joe was busy farting around with horse trailer and then tractor.  He was moving manure when we left for the pool. 

It started raining on our way to the pool, and looked like it was gonna keep it up the rest of the day, which it did.  So we just came home and had a late lunch (Courtney's salad masterpiece).

We spent the afternoon lounging, working a puzzle, and watching a movie. 


 


Patty joined us after a very wet time at doing evening chores.  We had a video chat with Britney and her boyfriend Juanca.  Dinner was Chicken Alfredo, which was actually a Banquet frozen dinner.

The much needed rain had cooled things off and replenished some moisture.  But the long drought has left the trees so stressed, they are dropping their leaves and it looks like fall. 




Patty headed home after dinner, Joe went to play poker and Courtney and I finished our movie. 

I went out to walk the dog when Courtney left at 8:30.  Rose joined us and was leading the way in this photo, taking us to her empty food dish.  Notice all the leaves on the ground. 

Monday 9/2 -  Happy Labor Day.

I did chores at the ranch, getting four partial wheelbarrow loads of manure since I couldn’t do full loads because of my weight restriction still. 

I had brought Amiga into the barn to give her a Previcox, and when I turned her out at the corral gate, she went and got a good scratching on the tree.  Then she trotted off to catch up with the boys. 

I met Joe at the Overlook Trail and we hiked it together, going 2.3 miles. 







From this switch-back, you can see where the trail runs along Daddy's Creek, which had a nice amount of water in it after all the rain the last two days. 




The woods smelled good and the sounds of the water running and the birds singing was 'grounding' (video). 








The Overlook Trail is very picturesque with the plants, creek, and rock formations. 

I can never remember the name of the tree that has these big leaves (which Joe is holding) that are white on the underside. 



Looking up at Joe as we ascended back up the hill to where the trail head was. 




And Joe looking down on me from where he was on the bridge.  Notice Daddy's Creek in the background. 



Once home, I had a big early lunch and laid out in the sun, but it proved to be a little too hot so that didn’t last long.  





After a shower and a nap and a little bit of horse shopping on the computer, I got ready to go to Mirror Lake Blast. 

I had a blast at the concert.  Joe stayed until intermission.  Micki, Donna, DJ and I stayed till the bitter end.  I danced my heart out and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  I'd much rather dance with great effort, energy and enthusiasm, than go to the gym.  Although I miss doing weights to work specific muscles.
 

Tuesday 9/3 - Monita finally napping behind my computer as I worked here.  Quite often she bothers me for love and attention. 

I made a quick trip to the ranch at 8am, to give Amiga a Previcox so she wouldn't be too sore for the farrier Wednesday. 










We have decided to keep horses off the side pasture because the grass is pretty short and we want to let it grow before Dorado arrives early October.

I stopped by the FFG Maintenance area on my way home, to pick up some good dirt I needed for a few flower beds. 

I made my first visit back to the gym and did (for two hours) a very restricted weight workout.  I went very light and easy on specific back and ab. exercises.  Actually, all weight lifting requires core strength when done properly, so I was careful with every exercise.  



I had an appointment at the vet for Stevie at 3:20 and got there a little early.  I had been feeling pretty good about her progress, until a few days ago when she started backsliding. 


I had told the vet tech I was unable (not willing) to pay for expensive diagnostics or treatment but wanted to see if there was something 'simple' (easy and inexpensive) we could treat. 

Stevie howled while the tech was taking her temperature and then squirted the coffee looking liquid diarrhea, when he removed the thermometer.  Later when they were drawing blood, she peed all over the towel she was wrapped in.  In this photo, she is trying to get back into her crate while we were waiting for the result of the fecal sample.

Well, we ruled out intestinal parasites, and are waiting on the blood draw to see if it is thyroid or kidneys.  And we may need to try steroids to see if it is inflammatory bowel disease.

It was almost 5:00 by the time Stevie and I got home.  We were both glad to be done with that outing.  And poor Stevie threw-up after eating her dinner.  I think she was still too traumatized.  

Susan sent these photos of the prehistoric looking, reptilian visitor they had at the ranch this morning.  She said the horses were curious and a little scared of it. 

  





Poker Joe was gone and I decided to sit and read on the porch with Stevie, to love on her after putting her through the trauma of a vet visit.
I went to bed early, with my sore throat feeling worse.
 

Wednesday 9/4 - My sore throat was really bad, and I also had a major headache when I got up.  My muscles were a bit sore from yesterday's gym workout, but that was a good feeling, to have re-awakened them. 
The view from my desk.







Rose was camped out by a chipmunk hole.  She sat there for a long time, patiently waiting. 





I was at the ranch before 8:30, gave Amiga a Previcox, and then waited our turn for the farrier.  Cowboy and then Zorro went, and then it was Amiga's turn.

Patty had morning chores, so helped with wrangling Zorro for the farrier.  Here she is leading Amiga (left) and Zorro (right) out to the paddock. 

These two Pasos have such nice ground manners, unless they get revved up for some reason, like when a horse fly is trying to land on them.

I dumped the buckets of dirt I had brought, around the azaleas near the ranch house, and gave them a good watering.  Then I headed to the pool for a few hours.

I came home for a late lunch and a bit of horse shopping here at my computer.  I am really drawn to the chocolate, with flaxen mane, Rocky Mountain horse. I like the breed and love the color.  I called about this eight year old gelding, but he was way over my budget.

Then I heard about the shootings at Apalachee HS in Georgia.  Horrific, senseless, and tragic. 

We train for disasters or emergencies, but never really know if we are ready for one, and hope not to be tested on our readiness.  Kudos to EMTs, police, teachers, etc.

I do not understand why people would design a video game like this or why it would be allowed on the internet?  What are people thinking???

I fed critters here at home early and was out at the ranch at 5:00 to feed our 'big critters.' 

I killed three horseflies that were on Zorro, while staying out of the way of his swinging rear end because he is trying to get you to help him. 

I noticed just one of the three black horses in the field along our driveway.

One look at the burrs in his mane and the flies on his eyes and I felt bad for him. 








But I also realized how lucky our 'pampered' horses are.

This will not be an easy task getting these out of his mane, if ever his owner tries to clean him up. 





I fed the chickens on my way out and was home by 6:45.  I had a small salad and then snacked on junk food.  I don't like it when I get in one of these modes. 

I went to bed early cause I just wasn't feeling very good.  Joe has a fall cold which he probably shared with me, that or my allergies are out of control.

Thursday 9/5 - My throat was no better when I got up.  Rose  leading the way to her food dish first thing in the morning. 

I feel like horse shopping has been a bit of a wild goose chase.  I can't seem to find exactly what I am looking for.  There are a lot less geldings for sale, the prices are over budget, or the horse is too far away to make it feasible to go look at. 








My surprise lilies all popped up after the weekend of rain and I finally got photos of them. 






On my way to the ranch, I knew enough to stay a good distance behind a big dump truck hauling stuff from a cleared lot.  There was a lot of debris along the road, evidence that branches fly out of the back of these trucks.  Also, I was thinking it’s a good thing I don’t drive with my tire on the yellow line. Otherwise there would be a lot of sideswipes as I travel down Westchester and Chestnut Hill, because so many others are on or even over the yellow line, on my side of the road.  It would help if these roads were wider and had shoulders, but they don't

I helped Joe re-attached the upper corral fence in preparation for overnighters and then gave Amiga a Previcox.  The pool was my next stop, since it closes in nine days, and I want to enjoy it while it (and summer) lasts.  I was a 'pool bum' for three hours, thoroughly enjoying relaxing in the sun and water and chatting with all the regulars.  This photo is here because I didn't take any others all day.

I went to the gym from 4-6:00, ate and fed my fur babies, and then took Maggie on a long walk, getting home after dark, which is occurring earlier and earlier these days.

Friday 9/6 - If anything, my sore throat and headache were worse.  I tried the nasal rinse and then steroid nasal mist.  After a bit, I felt it had helped some.

Joe and I hiked the 2 mile Thornhill Trail.  The trail head is at the Dorchester parking lot, so we parked at the pool and went straight there when done.  Joe had to leave to move a car, but I lounged at the pool until 2:30.  Pool time included a good arm workout as well. 




Later I discovered that I had wore my big toe raw walking so many laps in the pool while I was doing the arm barbells.  Ouch.  Also, my arms had gotten a bit sore.

I came home to shower and feed the masses early before we went out to dinner.  At the pool I had started feeling bad again, and was hoping to 'bake' the cold out of my body.  My postnasal drip and sinus headache had now moved to my chest and I was coughing a lot. 

Joe ran to the ranch to check on the tree trimmer and move all these branches onto the big burn pile we have at the barn. 

Soon we were off to Fortes to meet his poker buddies Frank and Farrel, and their wives Debra and Janet.  It was a lovely night but would have been much nicer if I had been feeling better.  The food and drinks were fantastic.

Ready or not, we are getting into cold and flu season.  I'll be getting my vaccines soon.